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The Skylark's Secret

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The Skylark's Secret

By: Fiona Valpy
Narrated by: Mhairi Morrison
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About this listen

Loch Ewe, 1940. When gamekeeper's daughter Flora's remote highland village finds itself the base for the Royal Navy's Arctic convoys, life in her close-knit community changes forever. In defiance of his disapproving father, the laird's son falls in love with Flora, and as tensions build in their disrupted home, any chance of their happiness seems doomed.

Decades later, Flora's daughter, singer Lexie Gordon, is forced to return to the village and to the tiny cottage where she grew up. Having long ago escaped to the bright lights of the West End, London still never truly felt like home. Now back, with a daughter of her own, Lexie learns that her mother - and the hostile-seeming village itself - have long been hiding secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew.

As she pieces together the fragments of her parents' story, Lexie discovers the courageous, devastating sacrifices made in her name. It's too late to rekindle her relationship with her mother, but can Lexie find it in her heart to forgive the past, to grieve for all that's lost, and finally find her place in the world?

©2020 Fiona Valpy. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Women's Fiction Heartfelt

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All stars
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Beautifully read. A story full of detail, twists and turns and emotions. The scenery of the Highlands is the backdrop for this story set across two generations.

A moving story set in Scotland

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I thought I had bought the book but I got the audible version and so pleased I did! I live on the other side of Loch Ewe from Aultbea and the descriptions of the places, people and the way of life in both times were absolutely spot on. Great story and the narration was perfect.

Spot on

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Loved this gentle book set in the Scottish highlands, with a dual timeline. Mother’s story, set during WW2, alternating with the daughters, set in late 70’s. So well researched into history I didn’t know about. Wonderfully narrated by Mhairi Morrison with her lilting Scottish accent bringing scenery & characters to life.
Sad in places but ultimately uplifting!

Beautiful story

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Beautiful story with fantastic narration interwoven with a strong historical reality and island life in Scotland.

Loved it...

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Set in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. A love story across 2 eras . The area was a strategic base for the Second World War "Russian Convoys' portraying life at that time and the class system of that time. Loved the characters and the soft lilt of the narration. I could see and feel the landscape.

LOVED it!

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Wonderfully told by Mhairi Morrison, although I had to speed it up to 1 as she reads really slowly. Her Scottish lilt blended beautifully with the content and I enjoyed the fact it was based on Churchill’s notes of the time so that the fleet and its war time tragedies were historically true. It’s easy to follow (important when listening I think) as the story is told through the eyes of mother and daughter alternating in their different time periods. Recommend for quiet times and bedtime listening.

Delightful story

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This simple but beautiful story is like wrapping a cosy blanket around you! It is a constant stream of beautifully crafted words! it is simple yet mesmerising! Her descriptive writing is one of the best! not too wordy just perfect!

like wrapping a cosy blanket around you!

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I am Russian and though I knew about the role Arctic convoys played in helping Soviet war effort it was very interesting to get a glimpse into what it was like for those running them, risking their lives in very dangerous seas. The Scottish accent of the narrator made the story more real. I think the WWII storyline was better developed than the 1978 one, the modern part playing second fiddle. I wanted that part to end quicker so I could come back to the historical part which I could relate to more.

Love, war, legacy all in one story

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This has been one of my favourite books from Audible. I loved the setting for the story, in
Aultbea in the north west highlands. The two stories ran side by side perfectly one set in 1940’s, the other in the 1970’s. Beautifully read by Mhairi Morrison made it perfect and authentic.
It was quite gripping until the end.

Loved this book

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It is a beautifully written story. The Scottish landscape and rural community within the context of the war is skilfully woven in a tale which covers how life never follows a easy path.

Warm tale of life

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